Between Rubies and Opals

Sam strolled into Morton Manor the next morning and found Gowan and Vikki in the living room, playing on their guitars. He walked towards them and greeted them, “Hey guys.”

Vikki stopped playing and looked over at Sam with a salute. “Hey Sam.”

“Sammy, where have you been?” Gowan asked.

“Gowan missed you last night,” Vikki pouted and Gowan pulled a face at her.

“I don’t know why, I can’t make any contributions towards your musical skills,” Sam answered with a frown.

“Well, you are the only one in the family that can’t,” Gowan said with mock disappointment.

“And I need to be reminded of this why?” Sam asked with a frown.

“Don’t worry, Sam, we still love you,” Vikki pouted up at him.

“What a relief.” Sam pressed his hand against his chest, and rolled his eyes.

“Okay, enough small talk.” Gowan shook his head and looked at Sam.

“What?” Sam asked, leaning against the backrest of the couch.

“How did it go?” Gowan asked.

“How did what go?” Vikki placed her guitar on her lap and frowned at the two men.

“You were right, Gow. She’s a vamp.”

“Who’s a vamp?” Vikki asked, and after not getting any answers from the guys, she tapped her hand on her guitar. “Um, hello?”

“A girl Sam likes,” Gowan explained briefly.

“You like a vamp girl?”

“Yeah,” Sam smirked slightly and nodded.

“Oh my god.” Vikki raised her eyebrows and smirked slightly.

“I tried to warn you, Sam. Sorry buddy.”

“Nothing to be sorry about,” Sam shrugged.

“But Sam, you liking a vamp girl isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you know,” Vikki said with a pout.

Gowan and Sam exchanged glances and Gowan frowned at her. “And how do you come to that conclusion?”

“Well, with Uncle Frank’s campaign for equal rights, you’ll be like the poster child for race equality,” Vikki explained, making exaggerated hand movements.

“That’s not why I like her, Vik,” Sam frowned.

“So you like her because of what a nice person she is? How she makes you smile and the way you feel when you’re with her?” she asked.

“Yes, exactly.”

“You don’t just like her, you love her,” Vicki said with narrowed eyes.

“That’s ridiculous!” Gowan exclaimed.

“No, I know that look,” Vicki said and pointed her finger at Sam.

“What look?” Sam contended, with an innocent chuckle.

“Have you kissed her yet?” Vikki narrowed her eyes.

“Once.” Sam felt his cheeks burned slightly.

“What?” Gowan exclaimed. “When were you going to tell me?”

“It just happened. Nothing could have stopped it from happening,” Sam defended. “Plus, I don’t have to tell you everything I do.”

“She could have killed you.”

“Stop being so overly protective, okay. It was just a kiss.”

“Have you screwed her yet?”

“It’s not like that, Vik.”

Gowan suddenly burst out laughing and Vikki and Sam looked at him, like he belonged in a restrainer.

“I think Gowan’s gone insane,” Vikki whispered to Sam.

“Madame Pelt was right,” Gowan laughed.

“What?” Sam exclaimed. “That’s crazy.”

“Wait, you guys went to Madame Pelt?” Vikki exclaimed.

“It was just once. Gowan forced me to go,” Sam whispered back to her.

“She said that you’ll meet someone, and the girl won’t be what you expect,” Gowan said, swallowing his laugh, wiping his tears from his eyes.

“You really are insane, you know that?” Sam pointed to him.

“Deny it all you want, but you know it’s true,” Gowan nodded. “You’re a different person, and you’ve only seen her twice now.”

“He’s seeing her again tonight,” Vikki chuckled.

“How did you know?” Sam asked in disbelief.

“Oh please, those puppy dog eyes of yours give you away. Plus, I can hear that wolf heart of yours pounding from all the way over here,” Vikki said with a wink.

Sam pursed his lips in slight embarrassment and shook his head, feeling his cheeks flush again.

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Vikki sighed, looking at Sam. “Sammy’s in love.”

“I rest my case.” Gowan motioned with his hands towards Sam. “Does it not bother you, though?”

“What?”

“You know. That she’s a vamp?”

“Why would it bother me?”

“The whole idea of her drinking your blood,” Gowan answered.

“She’s not going to drink my blood.”

“Does she sleep in a coffin?”

“You’re a walking cliché, you know that?”

“Just promise me you’ll be on guard, don’t let her pin you down or anything.”

“Oh please, Gow. You know we’re stronger than them.”

“I know, but it seems to me that this little vamp has got her fangs in you pretty deep.”

“She’s not going to attack and kill me, Gowan. Stop worrying.”

“You know I can’t do that even if I tried,” Gowan frowned. “All I am saying is be careful.”

“Thanks for the concern, buddy, but Erin’s different.”

“Different how?” Vikki asked, clearly intrigued about this conversation.

“I don’t know, but she’s not like them.”

“Because you mistook her for a wolf?”

“Yes.”

“She’s still one of them,” Gowan glowered.

“I know.” Sam nodded and rolled his eyes at Gowan like a little pup. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“Good boy,” Gowan nodded and slapped him against the arm.

“Where are you taking her?”

“Well, we agreed to meet at Methys, because I can’t exactly go over to her apartment-”

“Why not?”

“She lives in Coldora Heights,” Sam said and sat down on the couch beside Vikki.

“Ouch, red zone.”

“Exactly.”

“You can take her to the carnival,” Vikki said, her eyes glowing.

“You shouldn’t do that, you know,” Gowan whispered. “It’s creepy.”

“I can’t help that I got a cool ability and yours sucks.”

“Mine does not suck.”

“Guys, stop,” Sam muttered, rolling his eyes.

“Sorry,” Gowan and Vikki muttered.

“So when do we get to meet her?” Vikki said with a cheeky smile.

“We’ll see how tonight goes,” Sam said with a slight smile on his face.

“Ah, it’s so good to see you like this,” Vikki sighed happily.

Sam gave Vikki a grateful nod, but Gowan was not convinced of this whole situation.

Alex stepped into Erin’s room as she brushed her hair in front of her long mirror. “Whoa, look at you.”

Erin had a pair of black leggings on, paired with her flat black boots and an off the shoulder charcoal long-sleeved top. “Do I look okay?”

“You look hot, but I didn’t know we were going out tonight.”

“We’re not,” Erin frowned as she placed her brush in front of her on the vanity table and twisted her hair into a knot.

“So where are you going then?” Alex walked over to Erin’s bed and sat down slowly.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Erin…”

“I’m going on a date.” Erin turned around and looked at Alex. “With Sam.”

“Erin-”

“Before you say anything, I know exactly what I am getting myself into, and I am not going to argue with you about this again. I’m going and that’s final.”

“He’s dangerous, Erin.”

“No, he’s not. He hasn’t done anything to me that would make me think he is.”

“I think you need to wear your rubies tonight. It’ll give me peace of mind.”

“I don’t need the rubies, Lex.”

“Fine, but don’t come haunting me when he rips you to shreds.”

Erin crossed her arms and tilted her head at Alex. “After everything that we’ve been through together, I thought that you could at least allow me to be happy.”

“I want to you to be happy, Erin, just not…”

“Not with him?”

“No, I…”

“Spit it out, Lex. I haven’t got all night.”

“What’s going to become of me?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You’ll have him, and who am I going to have? No-one. I’ll be all alone.”

Erin frowned at her lifelong friend and shook her head. Before she could respond, Alex spoke again. “For a really long time, it’s been only you and me, Erin. We’re always together and you are the one person that I can come to when I need to talk. You were always here, but ever since you met this wolf-”

“His name is Sam, Alex,” Erin interjected.

“Ever since you met Sam, all we do is fight. I feel like he’s driving a wedge between us.”

“How can you say that? I’ve only seen him twice.” Erin walked over to Alex and sat down beside her. “Lex, I would never let anything or anyone drive a wedge between us. You’re my best friend and no-one could ever replace you. Not even Sam.”

“You say that now.”

“I’ll always say that,” Erin frowned. “Besides, it’s not like we’re getting married, Lex. We’re going on a date.”

“And we all know where dates lead,” Alex mumbled miserably.

“I could always ask Sam to invite Gowan, then you can come along too.”

“Thanks, but I wouldn’t want to impose on your date with destiny, or whatever. I think I’ll just watch a movie or something.” Alex rolled her eyes and looked at Erin.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“Yes. You go on your date.”

Erin placed her hand on Alex’s shoulder and looked at the clock against the wall.

“I know you have to get going, so…”

“I can cancel-”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’ll be fine.”

Erin nodded and stood up slowly.

“Where are you two going?”

“I don’t know. We’re meeting up at Methys Park, the rest is a mystery.”

“You have fun, Erin,” Alex sighed, but then looked at Erin, her eyes flashing. “Be careful, please.”

“I always am.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to use the rubies?”

“No, I’m fine, Lex. I can take care of myself.”

Count Arjen looked up from the leather-bound books when he heard a knock on the door. “Enter,” he said simply and the door opened slowly.

Lukas Wasilewski, a former university friend of Nikolai - who also happens to be Erin’s former boyfriend, and Governor Wasilewski’s son - entered the study. “Count Arjen, I apologize for the interruption.”

Arjen’s jaw clenched tightly as he recalled the last time he and Lukas were in the same room together. It had been a few years shy of four decades, yet it felt like only yesterday that Arjen chased him out of the manor, threatening to end his miserable existence if he ever came back to Algharakh.

Lukas still looked exactly the same, broad-shouldered – for a vamp – and broody, but his demeanor was different. He was more guarded and his defenses were sky high, not that Arjen blamed him.

“You are brave to set foot in my house,” Arjen said, glaring intently at him.

“Permission to have a seat, sir?” Lukas cocked his chin with a smug smile.

“If you must,” he motioned to the chair in front of him, his jaw still tightly clenched.

“Thank you, sir,” Lukas replied with a nod and sat down on the leather wingback chair in front of the big oak desk.

“If I remember correctly, I forbade you to ever step foot in my house again,” Arjen stated flatly and narrowed his eyes at Lukas, as he sat back down behind his desk.

“I have done what you asked, sir, but I cannot stay away any longer,” Lukas answered, with a frown, looking at Arjen. “My father requires me here.”

“We both know that is not true.”

“Am I to deny my father the privilege to see his only son because of a dispute with you, sir?” Lukas raised an eyebrow. “I think not.”

“This displeases me, Lukas. We had an arrangement,” Arjen glowered at him.

“I realize that, sir, but the last three decades were the longest of my life,” Lukas frowned.

“That does not make up for the damage that you did to Erina.”

“I realize that as well, sir, but-”

“But nothing!” Arjen exclaimed angrily and shot up from his chair.

Out of pure fear and natural vamp instinct, Lukas jumped off the chair and crouched defensively. “Sir-”

“Get out of my house!” Arjen bellowed.

“I only wish to speak with Erina-”

“You come within a hundred feet of Erin, and I will personally rip you to pieces,” Arjen hissed.

Lukas straightened himself, slowly lowering his hands. “Sir, you do not understand-”

“You are the one that does not seem to understand, Lukas. My daughter spent the last three decades trying to pull herself together after you ripped her apart. You have no idea what she has been through!” Arjen exclaimed, his eyes flashing violently, and his fangs protruding from under his top lip.

“Sir, I only wish to speak to her,” Lukas said with a frown. “You can even be present if you wish.”

Arjen narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Under no circumstances are you allowed to go anywhere near my daughter.”

“With all due respect, I am still a friend of Nikolai, and he would be very upset if you killed one of his friends.”

“Upset?” Arjen laughed sardonically. “You forget how my son lacks any form of emotion.”

“Still, sir, you cannot keep me away, and we both know that,” Lukas answered, braver and more confident than a few minutes ago.

“Do not test me.”

“I am not here to test anyone, sir,” Lukas said and shook his head. “Nikolai asked me to come visit with him and that is all I am doing.”

Arjen narrowed his eyes at Lukas. “I will be keeping a close watch, remember that.”

“As always, sir.”

Arjen’s jaw clenched tightly as he watched the young vamp leave his office and growled to himself.

His office door suddenly flew open and Countess Lewandowski was standing in the doorway. Her long brown hair was hanging over her left shoulder and her lips were tightly pursed.

“Cassandra, my dear. You look troubled.”

“You know exactly why,” she muttered, crossing her arms, and walked over towards her husband. “He is harmless.”

“Did you forget what he did to Erin?”

“Erina is fine. She-”

“She is not fine! Why do you think she insisted on moving to Coldora? She does not want to be here, in case something like this happens.”

“Erina is not clairvoyant, Arjen, you and I both know that,” Cassandra frowned.

“Maybe she is. She probably sensed that he would come back.”

“Oh, stop, Arjen. You are being overly dramatic,” Cassandra shrugged. “Erina, as ungainly as she is, is not clairvoyant, but she has a tough heart, and will not be affected by Lukas. Not the way she was at least.”

“I am not so sure about that.”

“It happened a long time ago, Arjen. I am sure those wounds have healed by now.”

“You don’t know Erin the way I do.”

Cassandra sighed and furrowed her brow. “Oh yes, your constant reminder that my own daughter prefers her father’s company instead of her mother’s.”

“You know I speak the truth.”

“It does not make it any less hurtful.”

“I apologize for my insensitivity.” Arjen placed his hand lovingly on her shoulder and she studied him for a few seconds.

“You are forgiven,” Cassandra nodded, “but only if you withdraw those fangs of yours when Lukas is at the manor. He is still Nikolai’s friend, and I would appreciate it if you could be a bit more civil towards him.”

“This is still my house.”

“It is mine and Nikolai’s as well.”

“I cannot promise anything.”

“Thank you,” Cassandra nodded and disappeared into the dark corridor.

“And you wonder why Erin prefers me to you,” he muttered.

“I heard that,” he heard Cassandra’s voice pitching through the wall.

He sighed and sat down on his leather chair again, rubbing his temples.

Erin parked her car on the side of the road and saw the Methys Park sign in front of her. She switched off her car and climbed out. As she crossed the road, she saw Sam, looking hot as coals, standing by the stone wall. He was wearing all black, except for a white shirt under his leather jacket, and had a smile on his lips that made it hard for Erin not to smile as well.

The memory of the kiss between them from the other night still gave her goose-bumps and she sighed dreamily at the thought of it. Again.

“Hey.” Sam looked at her, his eyes bright and clear, creating a whole new wave of sensations inside her veins.

“Hey, you.” She nodded at him and gave him a shy hug.

“Whoa, I get a hug this time,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. His warmth engulfed her and she felt herself falling. Falling into a pit of comfort with a wolf.

“Is it okay for me to say that I’ve missed you?” Sam whispered.

Erin pulled away from his embrace and looked up at him. “You are free to say whatever you like, Sam.”

“Don’t hold back on the formalities, but then again, you are a vamp.”

“Don’t generalize.” Erin shook her head at him, sliding her hands off his shoulders. “We’re not all the same.”

Sam was about a foot taller than her, but she actually preferred it that way. All her previous boyfriends were on the shorter side of the spectrum. Not that she was being presumptuous about her and Sam, but it was nice to experience something different for a change. Sam was different, in more ways than one.

Regardless if he was a wolf, he made her feel safe, something that no-one would be able to understand, especially not her family. In fact, her mother would decapitate her, and then bring her back to life to clean up the mess.

“Didn’t you miss me?”

Erin giggled and nodded at Sam. “Of course I did.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Sam breathed.

“So where are we going?” Erin asked and looked around her.

“Are you willing to take a walk with me?” Sam asked and Erin frowned. “It’s not far, I promise.”

“Of course, but you haven’t answered my question,” Erin said with a nod.

“I will, as soon as we get there,” Sam answered and put his strong arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

“Sounds good,” she whispered, slightly breathless, and he could hear her pulse racing.

Good sign.

Breathing in the scent of her, he reluctantly let her go, before he crossed a line. A line that he was sure didn’t exist. “Can I say something strange?”

“Sure,” Erin giggled.

“You smell just like us, you know.”

“And how is that?”

“Like orchids, and fruit.”

“So you’re a fruity bunch then?”

“Only some of us,” Sam laughed. “We also smell warm, and alive.”

“As opposed to vamps that smell like death and cold?”

“Exactly,” Sam said with a nod and looked at her. “But not you. Why is that?”

“I don’t really know. I’ve always smelled like this.”

Sam raised an eyebrow at her and said, “Really?”

“Yes, I’ve never been like others of my kind.”

“Yeah, all the other vamps that I’ve met are so sullen and arrogant, and graceful.”

“I can’t be graceful even if I tried.”

“I’ve noticed,” Sam chuckled. “But I like that about you.”

“My mother hates that I’m not the typical coffin-cutter daughter. She doesn’t get me. Neither does my brother. I mean we get along great, and he thinks that he’s my corpse-guard, but we also disagree a lot.”

“Because you’re so different.”

“My dad says that to me a lot. He embraces my uniqueness a bit more than they do.”

“He sounds like a good guy, I mean, for a vamp.”

Erin let out an amused laugh and looked over at Sam. “Gowan would hang you on your hind legs if he heard you right now.”

“Gowan’s not so bad, he just wants me to be happy, be all that I can be.”

“You’re lucky to have a friend like that.”

“Yeah, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. He’s more like a brother to me actually,” Sam said with a nod, and chuckled to himself after a few seconds.

“What’s so funny?”

“I just remembered something he did last week. He took me to this orange-haired woman for a paw-reading.”

“A paw-reading?” Erin burst out laughing and looked at Sam, who had a serious expression on his face. “You’re kidding?”

“Why would I make something like that up?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Erin shook off her laughter and looked at him. “Do you believe in that stuff?”

“No, on the contrary, but I may have said some things that offended her and kind of bashed out of there.”

“Wow, there’s that subtleness again.” Erin widened her eyes briefly.

“Gowan was a bit upset with me about that. We had a bit of a dogfight in her courtyard.”

“Was there fur flying everywhere?”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“No, of course not.” Erin shook her head. “Are all you werewolves on an ego trip?”

“Not all of us. I think it had something to do with the full moon, or something.”

“Ah yes, when the fools come out to play.”

“Hey, that’s really offensive.”

“To whom?” Erin looked around her, but saw no-one. “I don’t see anyone.”

“Yeah, we’re the fools while you cowardly vamps hide away in your castles.”

“Who’s being offensive now?” Erin exclaimed.

“My apologies. It’s that ego trip that you mentioned earlier.”

“You’re forgiven,” Erin smirked at him.

“So how long have you been friends with that feisty blonde?”

“Alex?” Erin asked and Sam nodded with a scowl. “A little more than two hundred years. I think.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, time tends to blur when you’re alive for so long.” Erin paused and looked at the amused expression on Sam’s face. “You know what I mean.”

“And how old are you exactly?”

“I’ll be celebrating my third century switch in two weeks.”

“Third century switch?” Sam frowned. “Like 300?”

“Yes.”

“Whoa, that’s a real long time in this world. No wonder you said time blurs.”

“Don’t even joke.”

“A little sensitive about the age thing?”

“How old are you, Sam?” Erin asked and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Oh no. Don’t change the subject,” Sam laughed and shook his head.

“Answer my question first; then I’ll answer yours.”

Sam let out a laugh and looked at Erin. “Fair enough.”

“How old?”

“324.”

“And you’re the one making fun of me?”

“I think I still look good though,” Sam said proudly.

“You do, actually,” Erin agreed.

Sam looked around him suddenly, frowned heavily and crossed his arms. Erin looked at him and also frowned.

“What?”

“Give me a moment to work this through my mind. I’m on a date with a three hundred year old vamp, strolling through a dark park, in the middle of the night. Not a soul in sight.”

“There are plenty of souls around, stop being such a wimp.” Erin playfully smacked Sam’s arm. When Sam let out an abnormally high pitched yelp, Erin burst out laughing. “Oh my god, what the hell was that?”

“You smack hard, you know.”

“Oh yeah, right,” Erin pouted apologetically at Sam. “Are you really as dangerous as we think you are?”

“It wouldn’t be courteous of me to brag about our superiority over you vamps,” Sam said in a tone that resembled her mother’s and tilted his chin upwards.

“Whatever,” Erin rolled her eyes.

“We’re pretty strong, but I don’t know about dangerous. It depends on the situation.”

“If you’re not threatened, then you won’t attack.”

“Right,” Sam nodded. “Do you vamps also have special powers?”

“Special powers?”

“Yeah, you know. Reading people’s minds, or seeing the future.”

“Well, our senses are really sharp. We have our own special skills, though,” Erin nodded.

“And yours is?”

Erin let out a nervous laugh and shook her head.

“You don’t want to tell me?” Sam asked. “Is it that bad?

“I wish I could, but I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Sam exclaimed, and Erin nodded. “You’ve been alive, sort of, for three centuries and you don’t know what your skill is?”

“Yes,” Erin cringed.

“I don’t believe that.”

“If you count being ungraceful as a skill, then that’s mine.”

“If I recall correctly, you haven’t fallen down once when you were around me. At least not today.”

“Maybe you’re my ruby.”

“Ruby?”

“Yeah, rubies are good luck charms to us vamps.”

“I’m your good luck charm,” he mumbled to himself, chewing on that statement. “Good to know.”

Erin let out a giggle and put her hand on his shoulder. “You’re funny.”

“So, you still haven’t answered my question,” Sam pointed out and Erin frowned at him. “Why are you so sensitive about me making fun of your age?”

“Oh, that,” Erin nodded and crossed her arms.

“You don’t want to tell me?”

“It’s not that.”

“It can’t be that bad, Erin.”

“Most vamps I know are married and have their own families at 300.”

“Ah, so you feel like you’re trailing behind.”

“Something like that, yes.”

“Times have changed a little.”

“Tell that to my 500 year old mother.”

Sam let out an amused laugh and shook his head.

“I’m guessing your mother is nothing like mine.”

“My mom died when I was young.”

Erin stopped abruptly and Sam turned to look at her, also stopping. “I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. It’s been me and my dad for a very long time. When Gowan and Lee moved in, it made the house a bit more lively, but her presence is still missed.”

“I can imagine,” Erin said softly. “Who’s Lee?”

“He’s Gowan’s nephew. His sister died when Lee was a pup, and Gowan promised to take care of him.”

“That’s so responsible of him.”

“He has his moments,” Sam chuckled.

There was a moment of silence between the two of them as they headed through the trees.

“So what did you tell your blonde friend you were doing tonight?” Sam suddenly asked.

“Does it matter?”

“She freaked out on you, didn’t she?”

“How did you know?” Erin narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you a mind reader?”

“I wish,” Sam frowned. “Gowan gave me that same speech this morning.”

“Ugh, they’re so similar it’s scary,” Erin scowled. “First Lex told me that I was playing with fire and then she was feeling sorry for herself, because I’m going on with my life, and she was going to end up alone.” Erin let out a sigh and looked at him.

“Your friend doesn’t like me much, I gather.”

“She feels the same way about your kind, or any other kind except her own, than my mother does.”

“Wow, so I won’t be invited to dinner at the Lewandowski Manor anytime soon. What a bummer.”

Erin looked at him for a few seconds and frowned.

“What?” Sam asked, picking up on her silent pondering.

“You already want to meet my parents?” Erin raised an eyebrow at him, her green eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

“Maybe.”

“That’s courageous, and a bit presumptuous.”

“Would it be presumptuous if I asked if I could hold your hand?” he asked.

“Not at all.”

Sam smiled happily and slipped his fingers between hers. “That feels exactly like I imagined it would.”

“Actually, it feels better,” Erin smiled at him. “I really like spending time with you, Sam.”

“Me too, with you.”

Erin smiled and as they crossed the road, the brightly lit entrance of the boardwalk carnival came into view.

“Oh my hell!” She let out a gasp and laughed happily. “I haven’t been to a carnival in so long.”

“I thought you might like it.”

Erin looked at him, her eyes practically glowing and clasped her hands together. “Thank you, Sam.”

“Come on.”

He led her towards the carousel and he saw her eyes light up from happiness and excitement.

“Oh, I love it.”

“You want to go for a ride on the carousel?”

“Can we?”

“Of course.”

Sam looked over at the carousel conductor and gave him a nod. The carousel slowed down and eventually stopped.

Erin let out an excited shriek and held out her hand to him. “Before I trip and fall.”

“We wouldn’t want that, now would we?” he said with a smirk, took her hand and followed her up the platform, to the horses.

“Pick one.”

“Okay,” Erin giggled and looked around her, scanning the carousel for a suitable horse. She pointed to her left and looked at Sam. “That one.”

“The white one?”

“Yes,” she nodded enthusiastically.

“Excellent choice,” he grinned to himself as they carefully made their way over to the white horse.

“Which one do you like?”

“It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s next to yours.”

Erin was speechless as she watched Sam hold out his hand, to help her up onto her horse. She placed her hand in his and he scooped her up with one arm, gently sitting her down on the horse. The heat of his skin against hers made her tingle and when he took her in his arms again, trying to stabilize her, her heart pounded in her chest.

“Good and stable?”

“Yes,” Erin said breathlessly as Sam’s arms were still around her.

“Good,” he whispered, lingering for a few more seconds. He stepped away, reluctantly of course, with a smile and slid onto the horse next to hers. “Now hold on tight. We wouldn’t want any accidents happening.”

“It’s a long way to Coldora.” Erin shook her head with a laugh as she grabbed hold of the golden pole protruding from the horse’s neck.

Sam nodded at the conductor again and the carousel slowly started moving. Erin let out an excited shriek and he rested his head against the pole of his own horse. He looked over at Erin, sitting on the white carousel horse, holding onto the pole, her fingers tapping a beat of their own, and an expression of wonder on her beautiful face. Her green eyes were bright and enchanting, and her dark hair blew in the wind. A shy smile formed on her lips as she met his gaze and the dimples in her cheeks appeared.

“This is beautiful, Sam.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“I can’t believe you went to all this trouble for me.”

“It was no trouble at all.”

Erin looked at the lights overhead and laughed. “I can’t even remember the last time I had this much fun.”

Sam smiled as he still stared at Erin. He was in total awe. Not only was she beautiful, but she was witty, and easy-going. She wasn’t a typical vamp, she was kind and happy.

The carousel stopped after a few seconds and the two of them sat in the darkness, simply staring at one another.

“I like the way you look at me,” she said suddenly and tucked a few wayward hairs behind her ear.

Sam slowly slid off the horse and placed his hands on the carousel horse, on either side of Erin thighs. He leaned closer to her, their faces only inches apart. “Good, because I intend on doing it for a very long time.”

“That suits me perfectly.” She flashed him a small smile, leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

The taste of her lips was extraordinary, and Sam felt his heart pound in his chest. He didn’t expect her to be this warm, being a vamp, but her energy was amazing. As she parted her lips, allowing him access to her mouth, her sweet breath filled his nostrils and shivers of exhilaration ran down his spine. He brought his hands up, cupping her face, and lost himself in her presence. Everything else faded away, everything else seemed insignificant, and nothing could tear him away from this perfect, euphoric moment in time. If the whole world had to come to an end right then and there, it wouldn’t faze him in the least.